So I now have the forward compartment (maybe anchor locker) bulkhead made and attached as well as 2 of the 6 "ribs" that I'll have along the hull.
I used an improvised version of vacuum bagging to do the bulkhead and the ribs. I used my big dust collector as a vac source and some trash bags as the bags. Still used peel ply and and breather fabric, but using a high volume vacuum source was so easy. It doesn't apply nearly the vacuum that a true vac bag setup would, but it works fine on parts that just need some clamping force. In this case, wrapping 2 layers of 24oz glass around those foam blocks was super easy. I just wrapped the glass, put on the peel ply and breather fabric, tossed it in the bag and turned on the dust collector while gently smoothing the glass into place. No need to seal leaks because of the volume of air that thing moves.
The ribs are to hold up the cap, and to add rigidity to the hull. (I did not do any bulkheads below deck). If I were to build them again, I think I might not make these two forward stiffeners so thick. I happened to have some thick 4lb foam blocks (surfboard foam?) so I used them. I think they just look a bit bulky. I'm hopeful that I have enough resin and good weather left to get the other 4 stiffeners done before I shut down for the winter. Once I get to that point, all of the major fabrication except for the console will be complete and I can start the 2 year process of fairing/sanding
10-16-2017, 02:17 PM
Hybrid Mode
